Funnel for rayon spinning



ug. 5, 1947. v. F.. FRENCH FUNNEL FOR RAYON SPINNING Filed sept. 17, 1945 NVENTOR nflt BY M ,6.

ATTQRNEY Patented Aug, 5, 1947 FUNNEL Foa miren srmmnc Vernon French, Utica, N. Y., assigner to Skenandoa Rayon Corporation, Utica, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware AApplication September 17, 1945, Seriai'No. 616,675

1 Claim. (Cl. 57--76) glass tunnels supported by a`suitable traverse mechanism" by which they are substantially vertically reciprocated during their normal operation. The rayon thread passes down through the funnel to the interior of a spinning pot and there builds up in the form of a cake, which is removed from time to time by the operators of the apparatus. When it is `desired to start up the operation of the unit again after a cake has been built up to a desired extentand removed, the end portion of the thread is placed in the upper substantially conical portion of the funnel and upon the smoothness and upon the accurate and uniform traverse motion of thefunnel.

Another dimculty which has arisen with prior art funnels is that it is very diiilcult to clean them. In the course of normal commercial operations it has been found that a so-called red deposit or deposit of some character, which is reddishin color tends to accumulate within the funnels. While the exact chemical composition of this deposit is not known, it is suspected that it comprises sulfur and certain lead salts resulting from the chemical action of the spinning bath materials upon the lead lining of the troughs in which this bath is contained. However, it is known that these deposits do in fact build up and. cause substantial difilculties in practical commercial operation. The cleaning of funnels, particularly one-piece funnels, such as i are commonly in use in the priorV art, is very then Washed down through it by a small amount, y

such as a small cupful, of a liquid be the spinning bath.

Due to the fact that glass is substantially'a solid solution of various oxides including sodium oxide, the action of the acid of the spinning bath, used incident to starting the operation and also that which is entrained on the thread during normal operation, has a chemical erosive action in some respects similar to an etching action on the glass. It has also been the experience of the art that there is a substantial amount of mechanical abrasive wear on the glass, particularly at the funnel tip, incident to the thread wiping across this surface. As a result glass which may diiiicult as this cleaning must be of a quite drastic character and yincludes not 'only mechanical cleaning, but treatment of the parts to be cleaned With chemicals.

It has also been proposed in the prior art to form f-unnels with removable inserts or of separable portions, `in an attempt to obviate some vof the dimculties which have been experienced with4 the conventional glass funnels. Some of these `proposals are shown in the patents to Haley, Nos. 2,320,590 and 2,320,591, both granted June l, 1943. 'I'hese structures have solved some, but not all, of the diiculties oi the prior art above referred to; but are themselves open to various criticisms from a practical operative point of view.

Among the objects of the present invention l are the provision of a funnel construction which funnels tend to become somewhat abrasive in A tional wear on the thread than with lustrous types of rayon thread. Even though the abradving of the thread may not cause the breakage thereof, it may still affect it to such an extent as to diminish its strenth and consequent value substantially. In addition, the physical formation of the raw yarn cake depends to a, certain extent is substantially non-shatterable in character; wherein there are a plurality, and preferably a variable number, of spaced inserts, which are preferably interchangeable with one another; and wherein the entire construction is rigid, relatively light, substantially .non-breakable and 45, easily disassembled for cleaning or the replacement of some portions as may be required.

Further and more speciiic objects of the present invention include the provision of an inexpensive funnel construction of the character above set forth, wherein the supporting body for the funnel may be formed of a strong acidresistant material such as laminated phenolic tubing and wherein the inserts may be interchangeable, easily cleaned, and formed of material which will be highly resistant to chemical erosive action and physical abrasion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a funnel construction of the character generally set forth, which is internally streamlined and which will. permit the easy "piecing up of the apparatus in starting the operation for the forming of a new cake after one cake has been completed and removed.

Other an'd more detailed objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following speciflcation and appended claim, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section of a funnel construction jin accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the lower end portion of a funnel similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified construction for this lower end;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a still further modification: and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a different number of thread-guiding inserts with shorter spacing sleeves therebetween.

Turning now to the accompanying drawings, the funnel comprises an outer tubular memxber I having a substantially uniform inside diameter. This member may be formed of a piece of laminated phenolic tubing or may be of any other suitable material, which is preferably 'relatively light, strong and acid-resistant. Within the member I is arranged a vertical group lor stack of threadcontacting or guiding inserts 2 separated.` by intermediate spacer sleeves 3, as shown in Fig. 1, or somewhat shorter sleeves 4, as shown in Fig. 4, these sleeves being 'essentially similar, to each other with the exception of their length longitudi- 'nal of the funnel.

The thread-guiding inserts 2 are preferably formed of some material which is hard and chemically acid-resistant to a highdegree. It should also be such that it may be easily cleaned and is not chemically attacked by cleaning agents. Lava inserts are quite suitable for this purpose.

It is also desired that the inserts be of the same size, so as to be interchangeable with one another. Thus in practice but one type or size of inserts need be stocked and no care need be taken as to the order in which the inserts are .placed in the funnel in assembling the parts.

The internal contour of the inserts is preferably composed of a solely convex surface in respect to the center line of the funnel, that is as seen in central vertical section as shown at 5, Fig. 1. The inserts are preferably at least one-half inch in length in a direction measured parallel with the center line of the funnel, i. e., longitudinal thereof. Furthermore, itis preferred that the length of each insert in its longitudinal direction be at least four times the minimum inside diameter of the aperture through which the thread passes.

'I'he spacing sleeves 3 and 4 preferably have an outside diameter just small enough to be easily slidable within the outer tubular member I,- so that the parts may be easily assembled as shownA in the drawings. These spacing sleeves may be of any desired light weight, relatively cheap material, which is preferably acid-resistant and which is sufficiently rigid so as to retain the inserts 2 at predetermined positions longitudinal of the funnel. It is contemplated, for example, that a relatively low strength paper-reinforced phenolic material may be used as the spacing sleeves 3 or 4. It is also contemplated that short sections of glass tubing could, if desired, be used for this purpose, as under normal circumstances the thread will not contact the sleeves 3 or 4. but will solely contact the inserts 2 during its passage down through the funnel.-

At the upper end of the tube I there is suitably secured a substantially conical mouthpiece 6 having a depending sleeve portion 'I adapted to surround the upper end of the tube I and to be secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the use of a small amount of an adhesive or cementitious material. The mouthpiece has a portion l with a downwardly directed shoulder 3 serving to determine the upper limit of the group of inserts and spacing sleeves 2 and 3, or 2 and 4, as the case may be. The inside diameter of the portion 8 is preferably substantially the same as that of the spacing sleeves 3 or 4.

Secured in and to the lower end of the funnel is a tip insert I0, which may be formed as shown of substantially cylindrical portions or surfaces of revolution around the central longitudinal axis of the funnel. As shown, the tip insert I0 is provided with an outwardly directed flange II having an 4outside diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the tube I. This flange serves to determine the lower limit of the group 0f inserts 2 and spacing sleeves 3 or 4.

Means are provided for holding the tip insert I0 in the lower end portion of the tubular member I. For this ,purpose there may be provided as shown in Figs.` l and 4 a filling of cement and/or packing material I2, which is forced into the space between that portion of the tip insert below the ange II and the lower end of the tubular member I. This material I2 preferably has a bearing on the tip insert I0 and on the tubular member I extending at least one-half inch in length in a direction longitudinal of the fun- 'nel and is designed to hold the tip insert rigidly and non-rotatably within the tubular member I.

There is shownin Fig. 2 a modified form of means for holding the tip insert I0 within the member I. For this purpose there is provided a' removable sleeve or bushing I3 which generally fills the space between the tubular portion of the tip insert I0 below the flange II and the lower end portion of the tubular member I. The construction shown in Fig. 2 provides by inherency from the particular showing in that figure for.

two desirable functions or advantages. First, it will be noted that the tip insert I0 projects a substantial distance beyond either the tubular member I'or the bushing I3. Thus, when the funnel is being moved downwardly, in the downward stroke of its traverse movement, and the thread yis winding inside the pot at a level higher than the instantaneous level of the bottom of the tip insert Ill, the thread will even then be maintained out of contact with all elements of the funnel except the tip insert I0, i. e., it will not touch either the bushing I3 or the tubular member I.` In this way, as the tip insert I0 ismade oi!4 smooth polished, abrasion resistance material, damage to the thread is prevented, which. would be likely to ensue if the thread could come into contact with any other member or portion of the funnel. The second advantageous result, also inherent from the structure shown in Fig. 2, is in the dis, assembly of the funnel parts, the bushing I3 as shown extends suihciently beyond the tubular member I so that it may be grasped by pliers to remove it and the tip insert IUl as a unit. This bushing I3 is in practice a relatively cheap part practice considerably more expensive, so that even though the bushing I3 be damaged in the process of removal of it and the tip insert Ill,- the latter is not damaged butmay be reused. Also, the tubular member I is usually not damaged by the removal of these parts.

It is contemplated that this bushing I3 may be secured to the tip insert Illby the provision of a cementitious material therebetween and that the bushing I3 may be similarly xedly secured to the lower end of the member I. It is contemplated, however, that the type of cement used for cementing the bushing I3 to the tip insert I may be different from that used to cement the bushing to the member I. The type of cement employed in each case should be chosen in ac-4 cordance with the characteristics and compositions of .the several materials.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a still further modification of the means for securing the tip insert I0 Within the lower end of the tubular member I. As shown in this figure, the lower end of the tubular member is provided with a plurality of depressions I4 of any suitable size, shape and number, and possibly including annular grooves or discontinuous semi-annular grooves. The space between the lower end of the twbular member I and including the depressions I4 is then iilled with a suitable material I5, which may be cast in place and rigidifled in a suitable manner, depending upon the characteristics of the material I5, and serves to hold the tip insert I0 rigidly and non-rotatably within the member I.

It is contemplated that the tip insert I0 may be made of any suitable material having characteristics similar to the material described for the inserts 2; although it is to be considered within the purview of this invention that the Atip insert may be made from material differentA from the inserts 2, if desired.

There is thus provided, in accordance with the present invention, a funnel construction which is internally streamlined, so as not to aiord recesses in which a thread might be trapped during the "piecing up" of the spinning unit, that is, during 45 the time that the vend portion of the thread is being caused to move through the funnel in starting the formation of a new cake in the spinning pot with which the funnel is associated. Also, the absence of recesses and sharp corners diminishes the opportunity for fouling of the funnel by a red deposit as above generally referred to. 'I'he construction further provides for the easy disassembly and re-assembly of the parts, permitting the cleaning of the parts individually and of the funnel construction as a whole when necessary. vIt permits the removal of minute abrasive areas of the several inserts, which have an undesired effect upon the operation, and permits the replacement or repair of any parts which may for any reason be damaged in use,.and thus attains all the objects hereinabove set forth.

While there is shown and described herein but one basic embodiment of the present invention 6 and certain detailed variants thereof,lI do not wish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claim, which is to be construed validly as broadly as the state of the art permits. What is claimed is: `A funnel for spinning rayon, comprising an outer rigid tubular member having a substan- 'tially uniform inside diameter, a plurality of spaced thread-guiding inserts of rigid abrasion- 10 resistant material in said member, substantially non-resilient spacing sleeves having larger internal diameters than said inserts for separating said inserts and positioning them longitudinally of said member and holding them rigidly and nonlrotatably as thus positioned, said inserts and spacing sleeves making up a group in their assembledrelation in the funnel, a substantially conical mouthpiece secured externally to the upper end of said member and constructed and arranged to determine the upper limit of said group of said inserts and spacing sleeves, a tip insert associated with the lower end of said memberand constructed and arranged to determine the lower "limit of said group of inserts and spacing sleeves,

ymeans f or holding said tip insert rigidly and nonrotatably to and within said member, whereby said thread guiding inserts and spacing sleeves and said tip insert will, be held rigidly with said outer tubular member during all movements of said funnel, said tip insert being of such length and so located in respect to said outer tubular member as to extend beyond said member by a distance suflicient so that the thread passing from said tipinsert will be maintained out of contact with said tubular member during the operation- Number Name Date 1,990,5 56 MacArthur Feb. 12, 1935 2,052,731 Taylor Sept. 1, 1936 2,320,591 Haley June 1, 1943 60 FOREIGN PATENTS l Number Country Date 21,008 France 1920 257,830 Great Britain 1926 of the apparatus, said means for holding said tip insert rigidly and non-rotatably within said -mernber comprising an intermediate annular sleeve having a bearing on both said member and said -40 tip insert of at least one-hau inch 1ongitudina11y 0f said funnel, and said intermediate sleeve, ex-

tending out beyond the end of said member by an amount sufficient to permit the grasping therelof in disassembling the parts of the funnel, but Ishort of the end of said tip insert, so as not to be engaged by the thread during the normal functioning of the device. l

VERNON F. FRENCH.

,REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

